Mysterious phone scam has global theme

Remember the one-ring phone scam? Well its back and broader than ever. This time the calls show up on your phone as having come from overseas locations such as Albania, Macedonia, and Seychelles. Most recently, Alberta residents have been falling prey to this scheme.

Here’s how it works. The scammer calls you and hangs up after one ring. Then they hope, out of curiosity, that you will call back.

Leah Brownridge of the Calgary Better Business Bureau explains what happens if you call the number back. “They may be connected to some kind of toll service. You may hear music playing, you may hear an automated recording of some sort. The longer you stay on the line, the chances are your phone bill is going to be racked up with long distance charges.”

Rogers Communications released a warning on social media regarding the scam. “If you receive a call from an unknown international number that disconnects immediately it could be part of a worldwide scam … don’t call back.”